US strengthening ties with India, others: Clinton

By Arun Kumar Washington, May 20 (IANS) The US Wednesday said it was “strengthening and deepening” its bilateral ties with India and other emerging regional leaders as part of its “smart power” approach to meet global challenges.

“Our smart power approach will rely on partnerships,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said appearing before the Senate subcommittee, as none of the great problems facing the world can be solved without the US, but Washington too cannot solve any of them on its own.

“We’re also looking to revitalise our historic alliances in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia, strengthen and deepen our bilateral ties with emerging regional leaders like Indonesia, Brazil, Turkey, Mexico, and India, and we are working to establish more constructive and candid relationships with China and Russia,” she said.

“By using all the tools of American power - the talent of our people, well-reasoned policies, strategic partnership and strength of our policies - we can make great strides against problems we have faced for generations and also address new threats of 21st century,” Clinton said.

“We know we are confronting instability in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, and the Middle East; we have trans-national threats like terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change; and we have urgent development needs ranging from extreme poverty to pandemic disease, all of which have a direct impact on our own security and prosperity,” she said.

Clinton said the Obama administration was focusing on three priorities: first, urgent challenges and regions of concern, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iraq and Iran, and the Middle East; second, trans-national challenges, and third, development assistance.

In Afghanistan and Pakistan, US efforts centred on “President Barack Obama’s goal to dismantle, disrupt, and defeat Al Qaida”, she said.

“And we know this requires a balanced approach that takes more than military might alone. So we’re expanding civilian efforts and we’re ensuring that our strategy is fully integrated and adequately resourced.”